UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » Ancient History » Culture and Art of India

Culture and Art of India

This article will discuss the Culture and art of India and all the cultural and traditional impacts it has on the Indian subcontinent and throughout the world. The topic of Culture and art of India is discussed in detail, mentioning different aspects of Indian Culture throughout the article.

Social standards, moral standards, cultural activities, religious institutions, political structures, including technology which emerged within or have been linked with the ethnic linguistically varied Indian subcontinent from the Indian Culture.  The word also refers to nations as well as cultures outside of India that seem to have linked to the Indian subcontinent because of immigration, imperialism, or colonisation, especially throughout South Asia as well as Southeast Asia.  The dialects, beliefs, Culture, poetry, architectural buildings, cuisine, as well as traditions of India vary considerably from region to region.  Indian Culture and art have been home to various modern cultures and traditions, just like how it has been throughout history for numerous civilisations.  The most prominent civilisations that had an impact on Indian Culture and art, as well as its architecture, are Hindus, Buddhists, and the Mughal kingdoms that changed the overall Culture of the whole Indian subcontinent in different periods of time.

India’s architecture seems to be primarily influenced by its heritage, civilisation, as well as religions.  Hindu architectural style, Rajput architectural style, including Buddhist architectural style is considered as the most well researched and well-known architecture in history when compared to other styles of architecture and traditions.  Both of them, especially the former, contain a variety of regional styles that are unique when compared to each other because of their regional barriers and differences.  The Harappan architecture built throughout the Indus Valley Civilisation allowed its inhabitants to live in cities that were prepared from baked brick structures, layout pathways, extensive sewer channels, including water supply channels and seems to have been a historic milestone in the development and town planning.  Most early Indian designs were made of wooden materials, which can now never be found as they have been lost throughout centuries.

Brief on Indian art

  • Art, architecture, ceramics, as well as textiles industries, including the likes of woven silk, are among the many kinds of Indian art
  • It covers the whole Indian subcontinent.  Indian art seems to be known for its great sense of style and design, which could be clearly seen within both modern as well as traditional forms of art style
  • The origins of Indian art may be dated directly to around the 3rd millennium BC ancient civilisations
  • Indian art has been influenced by cultural as well as religious elements, including  Hinduism, Buddhism, as well as Islam, on its journey to the current times of art.  Despite this complicated diversity of religious traditions, several major religious groupings have mutual recognition for their prevalent artistic approach at any given period as well as location
  • Sculptures involving stone as well as metal materials that were used throughout all the religious architecture seem to be in better conditions within the harsh Indian environment, these seem to offer the greatest as well as one of the finest remnants.
  • Several of the most significant historical relics which aren’t sculpted with the help of stones originate from the neighbouring regions that have dry environmental characteristics
  • Grave goods, which are the principal source of old art in other civilisations, are not allowed in Indian funerals as well as philosophical beliefs
  • Indian art forms seem to have a long history of following Indian faiths from outside the subcontinent, as the likes of regions throughout Tibet, Southeast Asia as well as China
  • Indian art seems to have been called an influential form of art because of its diversity ranging from Central Asia to Europe as well as countries like Iran

Conclusion

The article explains in brief about the Culture and art of India and its architecture, it further talks about how the Culture and Art of India have influenced the whole Indian subcontinent.  The Indian Culture and art of India are a homogenous mixture that gives rise to cultural diversity among various cultures and religions.  The article also mentions a few terms related to the Culture and art of India.

Related Articles:

UPSC BooksUPSC Calender
UPSC Cut-off AnalysisUPSC Eligibility Criteria
UPSC Exam PatternUPSC Marking Scheme
UPSC ResultsUPSC Syllabus
UPSC ToppersUPSC Study Material

 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What is the Indus valley civilisation?

Cities present throughout this civilisation were particularly known for their urban planning based on baked bricks, ...Read full

What are stupas?

Stupas are said to be some of the most well-known styles of Buddhist architecture, and they can be visited and admir...Read full

What is cultural diversity?

Cultural diversity, when compared to simple diverse monocultures, seems to be a mixture of various cultures that hel...Read full